Inhaler for crystalline pencilllin or the like



133551 .1; H FRED-EN 2,549,303

EUR PENIGILLIN OR THE Filed April 2c 1949 K I 3s I lllllll!lllllllllllillllllllll INVEN TOR.

JOHN. H. F RIDEN ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 OR THE LIKE John H. Friden, Maplewood, N. J.,assignor to Bristol Laboratories, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application April 20, 1949, Serial No. 88,504

This invention relates to devices for the inhalationof relatively drypowdered medicaments, 'such as crystalline penicillin.

Inhalers constructed in accordance with this invention consist of twotelescopically arranged basic units. One of the units is in the natureof a cartridge comprising a base, an upstanding, generally cylindricaltubular side wall that defines, with the base, a compartment for dryfinely divided medicinal dust or powder, such as crystalline penicillin.A rupturable wall is disposed across the upper end of the tubular sidewall to hermetically seal the medicinal powder within the compartment."l

The second unit comprises a body having a downwardly projecting,preferably frusto-conical extension at its lower end and a dependingflange or tubular wall concentric with and spaced from the extension.The unit is provided with a pas* sage extending through the body and itsexten sion. At the time of assembly, the tubular side Wall of the firstunit is inserted in the flange of the second unit with its rupturabletop wall po sitioned below the extension and spaced slightly therefrom.

-As will be explained in detail further along, the inhaler of thisinvention may have a single tip by which the medicament may beadministered orally or through a nasal passage. It is within the purviewof the invention to provide a pair of tips adapted, respectively, fornasal or oral administration, there being suitable valve means andassociated devices for permitting the flow of air bearing the medicamentthrough the selected tip.

It is the primary object of the invention to pro vide an inhaler forcrystalline penicillin'or the like that is simple and compact inconstruction and capable of accomplishing its intended functions in anefiicient and trouble-free manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an'inhaler for finelypowdered medicament that is inexpensive in manufacturing cost.

The invention has for another object the provision of an inhaler adaptedto readily apply dry finely divided medicaments, such as crystallinepenicillin, to the surfaces of respiratory passages, such as the throat,the bronchial tube, and nasal passages.

The foregoing objects, as well as other objects, together with theadvantages of the invention, will be' readily understood by personsskilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description,taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, which respectivelydescribe and 9 Claims. (Cl. 128-206) illustrate preferred forms ofinhalers constructed in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of one form of inhalerembodying the invention, the basic units thereof being shown inspaced-apart relation;

Figure 2 is a central vertical cross-sectional view of the inhaler shownin Figure 1, with the parts assembled in one relative position; Figure 3corresponds to Figure 2, and shows the parts in another relativeposition;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of the inventionand corresponds generally to Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a central cross-sectional view in enlargement of the inhalerof Figure 4, with the parts assembled in one relative position; and

Figure 7 is a view in enlargement taken along line 1--1 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the inhaler shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3 includes a first unit or cartridge III that comprisesa circular base or bottom wall l2, having peripheral serrations, asindicated at I 4, to permit firm gripping by the user. Integral with thebase is a generally cylindrical tubular side Wall l6, defining, with thebase, a compartment 18' for containing a quantity of powdered medicament20, such as crystalline penicillin. The base and tubular side wall arepreferably formed of a suitable transparent plastic material that willnot contaminate or adversely afiect the medicament contained therein. Arupturable diaphragm or top wall 22, made of a suitable rubber, plasticor the like, is disposed across the upper end of tubular side wall [6and serves to hermetically seal the medicament within compartment l8.

Mounted on and frictionally engaging cartridge III is a second unit 24,which is also preferably made of a suitable plastic material. Unit 24comprises a body 26, rounded at its upper end or tip to permit insertionin a nostril or in the mouth of a user and having a downwardly tapering*frusto-conical extension 28 at its lower end. As is best shown inFigures 2 and 3, an upwardly flaring central passage 30 extends throughbody 26 and its extension 28. Integral with body 26 is a dependingflange or tubular member 32 that is concentric with and spaced fromextension 28 and projects below the end of the extension. A plurality ofangularly spaced grooves 34 are formed along the inner surface oftubular member 32 and connect with corresponding grooves 36 in thebottom of body 23, thereby establishing communication between theexterior of the device and the space between tubular member 32 andextension 28 when the parts are in assembled position.

Tubular wall 16 is partly disposed in tubular member 32, there beingsufficient frictional engagement between these elements to maintain theunits in the relative position shown in Figure 2. To the end that thisfrictional engagement may be attained, the peripheral surface of tubularmember l6 and/or the inner surface of tub ular member 32 is taperedslightly. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, units l and24 may be separated by exerting sufi'lcient pull to overcome thefriction between the units. Also, when a person is ready to use theinhaler, unit ll) may be protracted with respect to unit 24-; that is,moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3.This causes frusto-conical extension 28 to pierce rupturable wall 22 andenter compartment !8. The parts having assumed the position shown inFigure 3, the upper end of body 23 is inserted in the 'mouth or in anostril of theuser.

For administration of the medicament through the mouth, air is firstexpelled from the lungs and the upper or tipend of body 26 is insertedbetween the lips and the lips are compressed. The user then inhalesslowly and deeply through the mouth. This causes aspiration of airthrough the passages formed by recesses 34 and 36, the picking up of theparticles of the medicament by the air, and the flow of the air andentrained medicament through passage 38 and thence into the mouth andcommunicating respiratory passages.

If adminstration is to be made through the nose, the user exhales andthen inserts the tip end of body 26 into one nostril and closesthe othernostril by fingerpressure. The user then inhales slowly and deeplythrough his nose, drawing in a quantity of air and medicament throughpassage 35 in the same manner as outlined above in connection with oraladministration of the medicament.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 4-7 i similar in a number ofrespects to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and includes a cartridgeI!) that is preferably the same as the earlier described cartridge. Theinhaler of Figures fi-T includes a second unit 38 comprising a body 39having a pair of divergent upper ex tensionsM and 42. Extension 40 isgenerally circular in cross section and is intended for insertion in anostril. Extension '42 is generally elliptical in cross section and isintended to be inserted in the mouth.

Body 39 is provided with a frusto-conical extension it and a dependingcircular flange or tubular member 46 that are preferably the same, inconfiguration and relativeposition, as extension 28 and tubular member32 of the previously described form of the invention. Body 39 is alsoprovided with a pair of oppositely disposed external depressions 48 toaccommodate a user's fingers. v

A central blind bore 50 extends through extension 44 and terminates inbody 39. A passage 52 communicates with bore 50 'and extends throughextension 48. This passage consists of a lower portion of reduceddiameter 54' and an upper portion of enlarged diameter 56 that is tappedat its outer end. A valve seat 58 is provided at the juncture of passageportions 54 and 56 for a ball check valve 60. A threaded plug 62 ispositioned in the tapped end of extension 40 and has a central passage64 establishing communication between passage 52 and the exterior ofunit 38-. Plug 52 is provided at its outer end with a screw driver slot66 to permit or its ready insertion or removal, and at its inner endwith cross slots 68 (Figure '7) to permit outward flow of air at suchtimes as ball valve 58 may be disposed across the inner end of passage64.

Unit 38 is provided with another passage 10 corresponding to passage 52.Passage 10 communicates with bore 55 and extends through end portion 52of body 39. Within passage 10 are a valve seat l2, a ball valve 14 and athreaded plug 16 which are the same as valve seat 58, ball valve 59 andplug 62, earlier described.

Units IE3 and 38 are assembled and maintained in assembled position inthe same manner as outlined above in connection with the form of theinvention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 Preparatory to using the inhalershown in Figures 2-7, the user grips unit [0 with the fingersof one handand unit 38 with the fingers of his other hand, and effects protractionof unit H] with respect to unit 38, thereby piercing rupturable wall 22(Figure 6). It it is desired -to administer the powdered medicamentnasally, the user inserts extension ll] in a nostril and inhales throughthat nostril, drawing air through recesses 18 and at, which air picks upparticles of the medicament and then passe's, with the entrainedmedicament, upwardly through bore 56, passage 52, past ball valve tilandth-rough passage 3 3. During nasal administration, ball valve H? isseated on its seat 12. Itit isdecided to administer the medicamentorally, the user inserts extension 42 in his mouth and inhales throughthe mouth, air from the atmosphere and medicament entrained therein fromcompartment l8 flowing upwardly through bore 50, along passage '10, pastvalve 14, andthen through the passage in plug 16. It will be apparentthat at such times, valve 66 remains on its seat 58.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of my present invention will be readily comprehended bypersons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however,that the forms of the in vention herewith shown and described are betaken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in theshape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In an inhaler, 'a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first 'unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a ruptu'rableto'p wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin "within ithe'uni't, a second unit comprising a body having anupper end adapted to be inserted in a respiratory orifice, a tubularmember integral with and extendin below the lower end or the body, an"element carried by the body for rupturing the rupturable wall, saidelement projecting within and being spaced from the tubular member, saidtubular side wall being partly disposed within and engaging the innersurface of the tubular member with the rupturable wall positioned belowthe element, said second unit having -'a passage extending through thebody and the element 'fo'i' ass- 08 establishing communication betweenthe interior of the tubular member and the exterior of the body in theregion ofthe upper end of the body, and means establishing communicationbetween the exterior of the units and the space between the element andthe tubular member.

2. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for. cone taining crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising a body having anupper end adapted to be inserted in a respiratory orifice, a tubularmember integral with and extending below the lower end of the body, adownwardly tapering element carried by the body and projecting withinthe tubular member, said element being concentric with and spaced fromthe tubular member, said tubular side wall being partly disposed withinand engaging the inner surface of the tubular member with the rupturablewall positioned below the element, said second unit having a passageextending through the body and the element for establishingcommunication between the interior of the tubular member and theexterior of the body in the region of the upper end of the body, andmeans establishing communication between the exterior of the units andthe space between the element and the tubular member.

3. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising a body having anupper end adapted to be inserted in a respiratory orifice, a tubularmember integral with and extending below the lower end of the body, anelement carried by the body for rupturing the rupturable wall, saidelement projecting within and being spaced. from the tubular member,said tubular side wall being partly disposed within and engaging theinner surface of the tubular member with the rupturable wall positionedbelow the element, said second unit having a passage extending throughthe body and the element for establishing communication between theinterior of the tubular member and the exterior of the body in theregion of the upper end of the body, said units defining a passageestablishing communication between the exterior thereof and the spacebetween the element and the tubular member.

4. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising a body having anupper end adapted to be inserted in a respiratory orifice, a tubularmember integral with and extending below the lower end of the body, adownwardly tapering element carried by the body and projecting withinthe tubular member, said element being concentric with and spaced fromthe tubular member, said tubular side wall being partly disposed withinand frictionally engaging the inner surface of the tubular member withthe rupturable wall positioned below the element, said second unithaving a passage extending through the body and the element forestablishing communication between the interior of the tubular memberand the exterior of the body in the region of the upper end of the body,said units defining a passage establishing communi cation between theexterior. thereof and the space between the element and the tubularmember.

5. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising anelongated bodyrounded at its upper end for insertion in a respiratory orifice, saidbody carrying an integral depending fiangeand a concentricfrusto-conical extension at its lower end, said extension beingpositioned within and spaced from the flange, said body and extensionhaving a central through passage, said second unit having at least onerecessformed along the interior of the flange and the under surface ofthe body, said recess originatingat the lower end of the flange andterminating inwardly thereof, the units being telescopically arrangedwith the'tubular side wall of the first unit positioned partly withinthe flange of the second unit and with the rupturable top Wall directlybelow the extension.

6. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising a body having apair of divergent upper extensions adapted for insertion in a nostriland in the mouth, respectively, a tubular member integral with andextending below the lower end of the body, and an element carried by thebody for rupturing the rupturable wall,

I said element projecting within and being spaced from the tubularmember, said tubular side wall being partly disposed within and engagingthe inner surface of the tubular member with the rupturable wallpositioned below the element, said second unit having a bore extendingthrough the element and a pair of passages respectively communicatingwith the bore and extending through a, corresponding extension, andmeans establishing communication between the exterior of the units andthe space between the element and the tubular member.

7. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like, said first unit comprising a bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising a body having apair of divergent upper extensions adapted for insertion in a nostriland in the mouth, respectively, a tubular member integral with andextending below the lower end of the body, an element carried by thebody for rupturing the rupturable wall, said element projecting withinand being spaced from the tubular member, said tubular side wall beingpartly disposed within and engaging the inner surface of the tubularmember with the rupturable wall positioned below the element, saidsecond unit having a bore extending through the element and a pair ofpassages respectively communicating with the bore and extending througha corresponding extension, and a check valve in each of the pair ofpassages, each check valve permitting fluid flow upwardly through thebore and then through a corresponding passage while preventing fluidflow in a reverse direction, and means establishing communicationbetween the exterior of the units and the space between the element andthe tubular member.

8. In an inhaler, a hollow first unit for containing crystallinepenicillin or the like,- said first unit comprising a, bottom wall, atubular side wall and a rupturable top wall hermetically sealing thepenicillin within the unit, a second unit comprising a body having apair of divergent upper extensions adapted for insertion in 2. nostriland in the mouth, respectively, a, tubular member integral with andextending below the lower end of the body, an element carried by thebody for rupturing the rupturable wall, said element projecting withinand being spaced from the tubular member, said tubular side wall beingpartly disposed within and engaging the inner surface of the tubularmember with the rupturable wall positioned below the element, saidsecond unit having a bore extending through the element and a pair ofpassages respectively communicating with the bore and extending througha corresponding extension, a ball check valve in each of the pair ofpassages, each ball check valve permitting fluid flow upwardly throughthe bore and then through a corresponding passage while preventing fluidflow in a reverse direction, and a removable plug at the free end ofeach extension, each plug having an opening establishing communicationbetween the corresponding one of said pair of passages and the exteriorof the extension said units defining a passage establishingcommunication be= tween the exterior thereof and the space between theelement and the tubular member.

9. An inhaler in accordance with claim 8, wherein the element isfrusto-conical and concentric with the tubular member and the tubularside wall frictionally engages the inner sur-' face of the tubularmember.

JOHN H. FRIDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,307,986 Bolte Jan. 12, 19432,478,715 Sehmitt Aug. 9, 1949'

2. IN AN INHALER, A HOLLOW FIRST UNIT FOR CONTAINING CRYSTALLINEPENICILLIN OR THE LIKE, SAID FIRST UNITL COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, ATUBULAR SIDE WALL AND A RUPTURABLE TOP WALL HERMETICALLY SEALING THEPENICILLIN WITHIN THE UNIT, A SECOND UNIT COMPRISING A BODY HAVING ANUPPER END ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN A RESPIRATORY ORIFICE, A TUBULARMEMBER INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING BELOW THE LOWER END OF THE BODY, ADOWNWARDLY TAPERING ELEMENT CARRIED BY THE BODY AND PROJECTING WITHINTHE TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID ELEMENT BEING CONCENTRIC WITH AND SPACED FROMTHE TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR SIDE WALL BEING PARTLY DISPOSED WITHINAND ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER WITH THE RUPTURABLEWALL POSITIONED BELOW THE ELEMENT, SAID SECOND UNTIL HAVING A PASSAGEEXTENDING THROUGH THE BODY AND THE ELEMENT FOR ESTABLISHING THROUGHMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER AND THE EXTERIOROF THE BODY IN THE REGION OF THE UPPER END OF THE BODY, AND MEANSESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR OF THE UNITS AND THESPACE BETWEEN THE ELEMENT AND THE TUBULAR MEMBER.